Venetian blind



May 23, 1950 R. BELL 2,508,742

VENE'IIAN BLIND Filed June 16, 1945 IN V EN TOR. F94 PH 5a 1;

@ MWW Patented May 23, 1950 2.568.742 vENaimn BLIND niipii mama Mien, assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Micin, a corporation of Michigan Application June is, 1945. Serial No. 599,714

12 Claims.

This invention relates to \improvenients in Venetian blinds.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a Venetian blind structure including tapes and a bottom baror rail to which the tapes are detachably and adjustably connected.

Second, to provide a structure of this character in which the attaching means for the tapes are concealed and one which is attractive in appearance and easy to clean.

Third, to provide a bottom bar or rail to which the tapes are fixedly attached, that is, attached so that they do not slip but may be readily released for readjustment of the tapes in the event of stretching oi the tapes.

Fourth, to provide a structure in which the tapes are secured with a camming clamping action, the camming member being springably supported so that tapes of varying thickness may be eiiectively secured.

Fifth, to provide a combined tape holder and cord attaching means.

Sixth, to provide a structure havingthese combined features in which there is no interference between the cord attaching means and the tape attaching means.

Objects relating to details and economies of structure and operation of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary'elevation view of a Venetian blind embodying the features of my invention, various parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the bottom bar or rail on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the tapes and the cord being tially in vertical section showing the clamping jaw in disengaged position.

Fig.6 is a perspective view of one of the clamping jaws.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing. I represents the head bar or box enclosing the'adjusting mechanism, 2 the slats, 3 the tapes and 4 one 01' the adlusting cords. The bottom bar or rail of this invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing 5 comprises a top member 5 of downwardly facing channel section, the flange 6 beingreversely curved to provide outwardly facing longitudinal recesses l with curved lands 8 and 9 above and below the recesses. The fixed clamping member l0 formed as a sheet metal stamping is of upwardly facing channel section having flanges ll thereof in edge abutting relation to the under side of the top of the top member 5.

The fixed clamp member has a conical support l2 struck up therefrom disposed through the flanged opening IS in the top member 5 and spun or upset at It, see Fig. 3. The cord 4 is extended through the opening thus provided and is secured by means of the clip or fixture [5. At each end the member ID is provided with springable bowed pintle supports it arranged in opposed pairs and adapted to receive the angular pintles I I of the jaw members l8. These members are serrated or provided with teeth I 9. Finger pieces 20 are provided at the ends and these are adapted to swing upwardly at the edges of the fixed jaw member H) to prevent longitudinal movement of the jaws or the dislocation thereof under stress. The fixed jaw members are provided with curved abutments 2| which offer opposition to the jaws when closing so that tape will not creep.

The pintles I! are angular so that they rockably engage the springable supports, permitting the jaws to be swung down to inoperative position shown in Fig. 5, in which position the tapes may be freely adjusted. When the jaws are swung up to engaged position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a very eilective clamping engagement results.

The bottom bar member 22 is of upwardly facing channel section and the flanges 23 thereof are curved to provide. inturned edges which sprin-rably and clampingly force the tapes into.

the longitudinal channels I. The tapes are also brought around the edges of the top member flanges with a snubbing'action and this snubbing I action is maintained by the close enga ement of the. bottom member with the tapes at this point.

The parts are all simple and economical to produce and are readily assembled. The tapes may be adjustably secured and the ends cut of! after they are secured and before the bottom member is applied. In the event one of the tapes should stretch or that they are not accurately adiusted, readjustment can be readily accomplished 3 by an unskilled person. The tapes may be quickly removed if desired for cleaning. The bar presents only smooth exterior surfaces and may be easily cleaned.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a very practical embodiment. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modifications or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention what! claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes and adjusting cord, of a bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section, the flanges of the top member being reversely curved to provide longitudinal recesses with outwardly curved lands above and below the recesses, said top member having a downwardly flanged opening therein,

a fixed clamp member of upwardly facing channel section disposed within said top member with the flanges thereof against the under side of the top of said top member and having a central comically-shaped support disposed partially within said downwardly flanged opening in said top member and upset therein, and providing an opening adapted to receive an adjusting cord, said fixed clamp member having opposed pairs of bowed springable pintle supports at the ends thereof, jaws having angled pintles rockably engaging said pintle supports, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the edges of said top member flanges and detachably secured against said fixed clamp member by said jaws, said fixed clamp member having curved abutments in opposed relation to said jaws, and a bottom bar member of upwardly facing channel section having springable curved flanges clampingly engaging the tapes within said recesses of the top bar member and against the lower curved lands and edges of the flanges thereof.

2. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, of a bar comprising a top member of downwardly racing channel section, the flanges of the top member being reversely curved to provide longitudinal recesses with outwardly curved lands above and below the recesses, a fixed clamp member of upwardly facin: channel section secured within said top member with the flanges thereof against the under side of the top of said top member, said fixed clamp member having opposed pairs of bowed springable pintle supports at the ends thereof, jaws having pintles rockably engaging said 'pintle supports, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the edges of said top member flanges and detachably secured against said flxed clamp member by said Jaws, and a bottom bar member of upwardly facing channel section having springable curved flanges clampingly engaging the tapes within said recesses of said top bar member and against the lower curved lands and edges of the flanges thereof.

3. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, of a bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section, the flanges of the top member being provided with longitudinal recesses, a flxed clamp member secured within said top member and having opposed pairs of springable pintle supports at the ends thereof, camming jaws swingably mounted on said supports, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the edges of said top member flanges and detachably secured against said fixed clamp member by said jaws, said fixed clamp member having abutments in opposed relation to said jaws, and a bottom bar member of upwardly facing channel section having springable flanges clampingly engaging the tapes within said recesses of said top bar memher and against the edges of the flanges thereof.

4. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, of a bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section, a fixed clamp member secured within said top member and having opposed pairs of springable pintle supports at the ends thereof, camming jaws swingably mounted on said supports, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the edges of said top member flanges and detachably secured against said fixed clamp member by said jaws, and a bottom bar member of upwardly facing channel section having springable flanges clampingly engaging the tapes drawn around the sides of said top bar member.

5. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, of a bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section, a fixed clamp member secured within said top member, jaws swingably mounted on said fixed clamp member, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the edges of said top member flanges and detachably secured against said fixed clamp member by said jaws, and a bottom bar member closing said top bar member.

6. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes of a bottom bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing chan nel section and a lower member of upwardly facing channel section telescopingly associated therewith, the flanges of the top member being reversely curved to provide longitudinal recesses with outwardly curved lands above and below the recesses, the flanges of the lower member being curved to springably embrace the lower lands or the top member with the edges of the flanges of the lower member in opposed relation to the recesses in the flanges of the upper member, a relatively fixed clamp member mounted within said upper member and provided with springable pintle supports, and camming jaws rockably and springably mounted on said pintle supports and having toothed edges, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the lower edges of said top member flanges and engaged by said jaws, the bottom member enclosing said clamps and clamping the tapes upon the flanges of the top member.

7. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, of a bottom bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section and a bottom member of upwardly facing channel section telescopingly associated therewith, the flanges of the top member being reversely curved to provide longitudinal recesses with outwardly curved lands above and below the recesses, the flanges of the lower member being curved to springably embrace the lower lands of the top member with the edges of the flanges of the lower member in opposed relation to the recesses in the flanges of the upper member, a relatively fixed clamp member mounted within said upper member, and jaws rockably and springably mounted on said fixed Jaw member, the bottom member enclosing said clamps and clamping the tapes upon the flanges of the top member.

8. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, 01' a bottom bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section and a bottom member of upwardly facing channel section telescopingly associated therewith, and clamping jaws mounted within said top member, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the lower edges of said top member flanges and engaged by said jaws, the bottom bar member being adapted to springably embrace the flanges of the top member and clampingly engage the tapes drawn around the edges thereof, said bottom bar member clampingly engaging said tapes against the outer sides of the flanges of the top member independently of said jaws.

9. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, of a bottom bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section, tapes extending around the outer sides of the top member and into the channel of said top member to be adjustably clampingly engaged therein by said clamping jaws, clamping jaws mounted within said top member, and a closure member for said top member, said closure member clampingly engaging said tapes against the outer sides of the flanges of the top member.

10. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes and an adjustable cord, of a bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section, a fixed clamp member, a conical element for connecting said fixed clamp member to said top member, clamping jaws swingably and springably mounted on said fixed clamp member, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the lower edges of said top member flanges and engaged by said jaws, a bottom member of upwardly facing channel section having flanges telescopingly associated with the flanges or said top member to clampingly embrace the tapes arranged against the sides and edges of the top member, the conical element being apertured to receive an adjusting cord, and securing means for said cord disposed within the aperture of said conical element.

11. The combination in a Venetian blind ineluding slat suspending tapes and an adjusting cord, of a bottom bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section and a bottom member of upwardly facing channel section telescopingly associated therewith, clamping jaws mounted on and within said top member, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the lower edges of said top member flanges and engaged by said jaws, the bottom member being adapted to springably embrace the tapes against the outer sides of the flanges of the top member, the top member having an opening to receive the adjusting cord, and securing mean for said cord within said bar.

12. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes, of a bottom bar comprising a top member of downwardly facing channel section, a bottom member telescopingly associated with the top member, and clamping jaws mounted on and within said top member, the lower ends of said tapes being drawn around the lower edges 01' said top member flanges and engaged by said jaws, the bottom member bein adapted to springably embrace the tapes against the outer sides of the flanges of the top member.

RALPH BELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Name Date Grassby May 11, i937 Lorentzen Apr. '12, 1938 Schaefer Mar. 23, 1943 Junkunc Jan. 1, 1946 Number 

